PAGE ONE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot: Dusk, just before the fiery sky begins to darken. On the empty sidewalk outside an exclusive Los Angeles eatery stand Angelica and Marco enjoying a post-dinner cigarette.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
Marco, an older and distinguished fellow of Mediterranean complexion, intently eyes the younger and more beautiful Angelica, also of Mediterranean descent. Both are impeccably dressed in classic style, accentuating her height and grace while diminishing his excessive weight.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Angelica notices her companion eyeing her attentively and tosses him a smile. Marco, however, remains malcontent.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4
With a look of exasperation, Angelica blows smoke out the side of her mouth as Marco goes to voice his aggravation.
MARCO: I don’t like how that man was looking at you.
PAGE TWO (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Looking over Marco’s shoulder at Angelica and her warm, knowing smile.
MARCO1: I know better than to get jealous when a man looks at you.
MARCO2: This is beyond that.
PANEL 2
Reverse angle over Angelica’s shoulder as the disgruntled Marco goes to throw his finished cigarette bud down towards his feet.
ANGELICA: Is it because of his lazy eye?
MARCO: No, I mean the other guy.
PANEL 3
Ground level view of the couple’s feet as Marco’s polished loafer stamps out his finished cigarette. Angelica’s feet are as sleek and elegant as the rest of her.
ANGELICA: Oh, Marco, you just don’t like redheads.
MARCO: No. I don’t like the Irish.
PANEL 4
Marco lifts his foot to reveal the crushed cigarette bud.
ANGELICA: You could always have him killed.
PAGE THREE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
From the POV of the restaurant entrance looking at Marco, Angelica, and the street behind them Marco and Angelica frame the left and right sides of the panel respectively. In the center of the panel is a non-descript gray van parked on the opposite side of the street.
MARCO: If only I could.
PANEL 2
Closer on the gray van. Its windows are tinted black.
MARCO1: (No Tail) I miss the old days.
MARCO2: (No Tail) Now, I have to sit through so many meetings to kill somebody.
PANEL 3
Again, closer on the gray van. Placing the focus on the blackened driver’s side window.
MARCO: (No Tail) Without a favorable risk analysis, we can’t lay a finger on anybody.
PANEL 4
Tight on the driver’s side window. Marco and Angelica can be seen in the polished reflection, standing across the street.
ANGELICA: FBI is across the street.
MARCO: Yeah, I saw.
PAGE FOUR (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Looking from the van at Marco and Angelica standing on the sidewalk. Angelica is tossing her finished cigarette on the ground.
MARCO1: They can’t use anything we said.
MARCO2: Since I’m just being SARCASTIC.
PANEL 2
Same image in Panel 1 displayed on grainy video monitor.
MARCO: Plus, if I was going to kill anybody, it would be the chef.
PANEL 3
Pull back to show two FBI AGENTS, one older, one brand spanking new, watching a bed of surveillance monitors like the one in Panel 2. On the center monitor, Marco leads Angelica back to the restaurant entrance.
MARCO1: Makes me wait an hour for the food to get there.
MARCO2: And the damn steak is overcooked.
PANEL 4
Same POV as Panel 3 as the senior agent makes a note of the conversation on his log. On the monitor, Marco is holding the door open for Angelica.
ANGELICA: Maybe we can give the feds your doggie bag.
YOUNGER AGENT: Christ-
PAGE FIVE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Still in the van looking at the right side of the agents, the younger agent raises his hands in exasperation as the senior agent continues his notations.
YOUNGER AGENT: That was a waste of time.
SENIOR AGENT: Don’t worry. You get paid by the hour, not the unforced confession.
PANEL 2
Close on the face of the younger agent as he issues a whimsical smirk.
YOUNGER AGENT: So, what now?
SENIOR AGENT: (No Tail) We do it by the book.
PANEL 3
Close on the senior agent as he yet continues recording his observations.
SENIOR AGENT1: We set up surveillance teams on the chef and this redhead.
SENIOR AGENT2: If one of them so much as catches a cold, we go after the Big Guy there.
PANEL 4
Back on the empty monitor that now shows the vacant area in front of the restaurant.
YOUNGER AGENT: (No-Tail) Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen.
"THROWAWAY COMMENTS " © 2004 Michael Wojciak
